2002年-世界发展银行全球_Reforming_Road_Management_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa___Overcoming_Obstacles_to_Implementation_4页_395kb

Private Sector and Infrastructure: Summary of Findings

Core Content

This document outlines the findings of the World Bank's Road Management Initiative (RMI) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing on the challenges and opportunities in reforming road management and financing. It highlights the importance of infrastructure, particularly roads, as a critical asset for economic development, and the need for sustainable reforms to address the current inefficiencies and poor maintenance practices.

Main Views

• Roads as a critical asset: SSA has over 2 million km of roads, with a replacement cost of at least $170 billion. Annual maintenance costs are estimated at $2–3 billion, yet most roads are poorly maintained, leading to significant losses of investment.
• Need for commercialization: The RMI promotes the commercialization of road management, where roads are treated like a business, with user charges and private sector involvement.
• Four building blocks for reform:
  • Ownership: Involving road users in funding and management to build support and reduce agency monopoly.
  • Responsibility: Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities across different levels of government and agencies.
  • Funding: Establishing dedicated road funds based on user charges to ensure stable and adequate funding.
  • Sound business practices: Implementing efficient management systems, including performance measurement and accountability.

Key Information

Policy Reforms in SSA

• Road networks expanded significantly in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Governments have historically managed roads as a social service, resisting private sector involvement.
• Most countries have not clearly defined who is responsible for road management, leading to inefficiencies and lack of accountability.

Obstacles to Implementation

1. Ownership

   • Governments are reluctant to share responsibility with the private sector.
   • Road Boards, which could facilitate user involvement, often lack political and legal backing.
   • Existing road funds are seen as a threat to public control, leading to resistance.

2. Responsibility

   • Legal frameworks often do not specify responsibilities for road management.
   • Local governments lack dedicated road departments, and responsibilities are frequently unclear.
   • Road managers often lack clear guidelines on asset protection, liability, and service delivery.

3. Adequate and stable flow of funds

   • Road maintenance budgets are often insufficient and uncertain.
   • Dedicated road funds, while promoted, are not always effectively managed or controlled.
   • Donor pressure is often needed to adjust fee rates and ensure proper funding.

4. Sound business practices

   • Government agencies are inefficient and lack a commercial approach to road management.
   • Management systems are often outdated, with insufficient data and technology.
   • Civil service salaries are low, and lack of incentives discourages effective performance.
   • Training programs have not significantly improved the capacity of road agencies, as trained staff often move to the private sector.

Way Forward

• Comprehensive implementation plans are needed to address the identified obstacles.
• Strengthening the RMI's capacity and resources is essential to support reform efforts.
• The RMI can act as a coordination mechanism for donor support and help in drafting and implementing reform strategies.
• There is a need for clear governance frameworks, performance measurement systems, and institutional capacity building to ensure the success of reforms.

Conclusion

The RMI has made progress in promoting road commercialization and the establishment of road funds, but broader reforms in ownership, responsibility, funding, and management remain challenging. The document calls for a more integrated and comprehensive approach to reform, supported by strong institutional frameworks and donor coordination, to ensure sustainable and efficient road management in SSA.

References

1. Heggie, Ian G. Management and Financing of Roads, An Agenda for Reform. World Bank Technical Paper Number 275, Africa Technical Series, The World Bank, Washington D.C., 1995.
2. Sylte Ole Kr. Review of the Road Sector in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Countries. Oslo, April 1999.
3. Sylte, Ole Kr. Appraisal of RMI Concepts Implementation in SSA Countries. Oslo, April 1999.
4. Potter Barry H. Dedicated Road Funds. A Preliminary View on a World Bank Initiative. IMF Paper on Policy Analysis and Assessment, International Monetary Fund, Fiscal Affairs Department, Washington D.C, June 1997.